moomoo
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1
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Post by moomoo on Jan 16, 2022 0:26:29 GMT -5
Hi, I'm Moomoo and new to rock tumbling. I just got a double barrel from Harbor Freight and I'm in the 2nd week. So far so good. Im doing everything by the book. I used some pea gravel as filler. I think this gravel travels with the rocks through each stage of tumbling, correct? Please advise. Also, the final stage some people use slivers of Ivory soap. How much and how thinly sliced? Thanks in advance. Be well.
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Post by Pat on Jan 16, 2022 1:12:40 GMT -5
Welcome from California. Not a tumbler. We have world class tumblers here, and a big section just for tumbling. Ask your tumbling questions there for getting responses. Hard for me to locate that section from my cell phone. These RTHlings can help. jamespjasoninsdhummingbirdstones@rockjunque Good luck.
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Intro
Jan 16, 2022 6:59:44 GMT -5
Post by rockjunquie on Jan 16, 2022 6:59:44 GMT -5
Welcome from California. Not a tumbler. We have world class tumblers here, and a big section just for tumbling. Ask your tumbling questions there for getting responses. Hard for me to locate that section from my cell phone. These RTHlings can help. jamesp jasoninsd hummingbirdstones @rockjunque Good luck. Welcome from Virginia! Cabbing is not my forte, but someone will be along to answer your questions.
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rocket
spending too much on rocks
Quality slabs for quality cabs in 2022
Member since September 2020
Posts: 292
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Post by rocket on Jan 16, 2022 7:08:17 GMT -5
Welcome, the first lesson I had to learn is not to mix rocks of different hardness…the second lesson was what that meant
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 16, 2022 8:55:44 GMT -5
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brybry
Cave Dweller
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Member since October 2021
Posts: 1,199
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Intro
Jan 16, 2022 9:43:32 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by brybry on Jan 16, 2022 9:43:32 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from Georgia
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Intro
Jan 16, 2022 9:54:58 GMT -5
Post by vegasjames on Jan 16, 2022 9:54:58 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 16, 2022 10:51:47 GMT -5
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Intro
Jan 16, 2022 15:28:12 GMT -5
Post by catskillrocks on Jan 16, 2022 15:28:12 GMT -5
Welcome moomoo . Looks like your questions have been answered, hopefully when your batch is finished you let us see how they came out.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Intro
Jan 17, 2022 15:20:39 GMT -5
Post by LazerFlash on Jan 17, 2022 15:20:39 GMT -5
Welcome from Charles Town WV. (Think John Brown's pre-Civil War raid.) Like you, I'm new to the tumbling aspect of this hobby and am pretty much hooked.
I have learned a lot from the folks here, but also via trial and error. Don't be shy about asking for advice/help.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Post by LazerFlash on Jan 17, 2022 15:25:45 GMT -5
moomoo , consider that this forum by itself is a remarkable resource... It's always a good idea to use the Search function before you ask; chances are good someone, sometime has asked your question and had it answered.
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LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
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Intro
Jan 17, 2022 15:47:52 GMT -5
Post by LazerFlash on Jan 17, 2022 15:47:52 GMT -5
I used some pea gravel as filler. I think this gravel travels with the rocks through each stage of tumbling, correct? Please advise. Also, the final stage some people use slivers of Ivory soap. How much and how thinly sliced? Thanks in advance. Be well. Take this advice with a grain of salt, because like you, I'm still a newb... only been at it for less than a year.
I don't use pea gravel. In stages 1 and 2, I use a white gravel that I got at Dollar General. I'm pretty sure that it's crushed marble, so it's pretty soft. It's usually all gone by the end of stage 2.
I also use flat, black terrarium/landscape stones from stage 1 all the way through to the end of stage 3 (pre-polish). I generally pull out what's left before stage 4. (Sorry, no pictures.)
As to Ivory Soap, I do use that in the in-between burnish stages along with about an 1/8 tbsp of OxyClean.
Hope this helps.
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 17, 2022 16:37:52 GMT -5
I have progressed to where I only use Ivory Soap to "burnish" the finished tumbles after the Polish Run. Usually run about 8 to 10 hours in Soap. I have an old kitchen grater that I use to shred maybe 1/4 to a 1/3 of a bar of Ivory, this is for a 18 pound vib tumbler. I also add a heaping tablespoon of borax to the soap run.
My tumbling process leans towards the belief that a good hose rinse between stages is adequate. This works for me unless I am tumbling hollowed(small geodes) pieces, which I will seek out and make sure there is no trapped slurry in the cavity.
One thing you will find is that there are many different work processes for tumbling and from what I have seen, all of them seem to work.
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